by Lewis Ambrose

Petr Čech is – as you know but, if you’re an Arsenal fan, aren’t yet tired of hearing – an Arsenal player.

What that means for Wojciech Szczesny, nobody quite knows. The Polish goalkeeper has said he is eager to learn from one of the most decorated goalkeepers in English football, but has already been urged to leave by one former Polish goalkeeper.

Now another has joined in. Formerly of Liverpool and Real Madrid, as well as winning 60 caps for their country, Jerzy Dudek has told Szczesny to leave Arsenal just like compatriot Lukas Fabianksi did last summer.

“I think he must change his environment,” Dudek wrote in his column for Przeglądzie Sportowym (Sport Review, in English).

“An example for him would be recent club mate Lukasz Fabianski. Fabianski was a substitute at Arsenal for years and in the end he understood that some things will not change. He took a step back – went to Swansea City.

“Now he is the first choice goalkeeper for the national team and Szczesny, as long as this goes on, won’t be selected.”

It is worth mentioning that Dudek lost his place in the national team after leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid in 2007, where he was nothing more than a back up for Iker Casillas.

The Pole knows what he is talking about, and has his own experiences to draw from. It is unlikely that Szczesny will leave Arsenal but if Čech manages to impress for as long as he aims to the former Arsenal number one will have some issue getting the shirt back before he even hits his thirties.